Real Madrid is facing one of its toughest weeks of the season. LaLiga has scheduled two matches within a span of just 70 hours, reigniting the debate over the lack of recovery time between games and testing the physical limits of Xabi Alonso’s squad.

A Tight Schedule Before the Supercopa

The Spanish giants will visit Girona on Sunday, November 30 at 9:00 p.m., and return to action barely three days later on Wednesday, December 3 at 7:00 p.m., when they face Athletic Club at San Mamés. The reason behind this congested schedule lies in the rescheduling of LaLiga’s Matchday 19, which was moved forward to make room for the Spanish Super Cup, set to take place in Saudi Arabia with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and Athletic Club as participants.

The decision leaves Real Madrid with less than the 72-hour minimum rest period recommended by FIFA between official matches. This rule, implemented in 2023, aims to protect players’ health and prevent physical overload during congested seasons. However, the schedule adjustments have forced LaLiga to prioritize logistics over player welfare—a situation that has not gone unnoticed at the Madrid club.

A Controversy With Precedent

This is not the first time Real Madrid has been affected by a compressed schedule. In March 2025, the team had to visit Villarreal just 66 hours after playing a Champions League derby against Atlético Madrid, sparking strong institutional criticism. At the time, Real Madrid TV released a firm statement:
“Real Madrid will never again play without having at least 72 hours of rest. The club will appeal to FIFA if necessary.”

Since that episode, the club had managed to uphold its non-negotiable minimum rest principle—until the new schedule once again broke that rule. Being forced to play two high-intensity matches in such a short period comes at a crucial point in the season, with the Supercopa de España on the horizon and the LaLiga title race heating up.

Real Madrid will now need to carefully manage player fatigue and balance workloads to avoid injuries in a week that will test both Xabi Alonso’s tactical planning and his squad’s endurance. Once again, the calendar places Los Blancos at the center of the ongoing debate between entertainment and player welfare.